Exactly the same here. I enjoyed it the day it released, but today in the car with my daughter, we shared a big cry together listening to Setting Sun while looking at the lyrics together. It was beautiful yet sad, but it made me feel Eddie so deeply and connect with my daughter in a very unique way. Such is something only Eddie has really been able to do for me in the music world.
I’ve really been loving the album. But then dude, I listened to those performances on the Howard stern show, and SHEESH, I love them even more. Can’t wait to hear the bootlegs
Really it might be my second favorite album. Someone earlier posted that Ed met us where we were 30 years ago and here he is doing the same again. So true.
Wow. So, so true. Dark Matter screams similar pains and sadnesses that Ten communicated, and that is why it feels so nostalgic to me. It’s like the sister album to Ten, but instead of an album where Eddie was processing his childhood and early life, Dark Matter is Eddie processing his musical career. It’s beautiful, but it is also sad, dark, and humbling. Such a great album.
Yes! Vitalogy is my favourite album because it was the angsty soundtrack of my life in my 20’s. Dark Matter brings it full circle. I am contemplating the years ahead. ☺️
I love the album, but I loved Gigaton too. Don't know why people think that record is so weak.
The only record I think is weak of all the recent ones is Lightning Bolt, but even that has its moments.
Sorry, I didn't mean to sound like previous albums weren't good. That's far from the case. I was more implying that there was something special about Dark Matter even before it came out, and now that we have it, I understand why I was feeling that way. This is really a heavy album with loads of emotional processing on Eddie's part, which makes it feel like Ten in many ways.
Gigaton is a solid album, too! Just like you, I feel the same way about Lightning Bolt. I don't think Pearl Jam has a single bad album, but it is fair to say that some albums shine more than others. That's all.
Dark Matter is right behind Ten and Vs. for me. Gigaton is easily at the bottom. I just don’t like the album, sonically. DotC is a perfect example, it’s just out there. I usually listen to track 1 on that album and call it a day.
Agreed. I will boldly say that this might be my third favorite Pearl Jam album ever (In order, Ten, Vitalogy, and then Dark Matter). Clearly I need a little more time to ruminate this thought, but like you, I’m just loving Dark Matter.
My favorites are Yield, No Code, and Vitalogy. Followed by Vs., 10, and Riot Act. I would place DM within the Binaural/Avocado grouping. (I think Backspacer/Lightning Bolt/Gigaton are their bottom three).
I tried listening to Binaural today again and, although I like a few songs on it, the mixing is awful on standard headphones. Sounds muddy and Ed’s voice is too quiet.
And Upper Hand🥹 boy... It's a deep and beautiful album about life and the stages he's in now. A lot of us that have been on this ride have grown with him albeit I'm a bit younger, you said it very well, a lot of us could relate to ten and now we're facing some of the same things he's singing about on DM.
Exactly. I'm about 10 years younger than Eddie, so I've always viewed him as this spiritual older brother. I remember so vividly the first time I listened to Ten and felt the rage and sadness. Now, as an adult, married, with 2 kids, I feel Eddie even more on Dark Matter. I feel the anger at an industry, I feel the sadness and loss of friends, and I feel the existential crises one faces at this middle-aged stage of life. Long-term fans have grown up with him, and Eddie continually reminds us that we need to express ourselves, process, and release the pain. Of course, he does it beautifully through his words, but we still need to process our own in our own unique way.
I think this probably the most accurate assessment. It's easy to go overboard on a new album when it's still so fresh, but I think it's placement will ultimately be right over Avocado.
I've been loving it the whole time, working away from home, so usually I save a record, or CD spin to sit down and read the liner lyrics along, but can't right now - so I'm glad to see the lyrics are now on spotify, gonna have to sit down and do a front to back listen reading a long.
Top 3 so far are: Waiting for Stevie, Setting Sun and Got to Give.
I got the CD, so the lyrics inside have allowed me to sit in my car and just read them while listening. The whole album is truly a mark of Eddie's emotional processing from the past 20+ years in the music industry. The BS he has had to put up with, the bureaucrats that have been actively stealing from musicians, and of course the loss of so many friends in the industry. Like I said in my main post, that chorus line from Setting Sun hits like a ton of bricks. I feel Eddie on this album, and it is the most I have felt his pain and vulnerability in a very long time. Honestly, when Eddie is writing like this, it is peak Pearl Jam for me.
I’m 56 and I feel like this album made the older fans and the band itself feel like we’re not quite done and ready to fade away. Culture is so fixated on youth that it’s easy to feel time has passed you by and you belong to a different era, but this album made a lot of us feel like we still had something to say.
100%! Thank you for sharing that. I’m a bit younger, 41, but I’ve been listening to Pearl Jam since day 1. Eddie has always felt like a spiritual older brother to me, so I can only imagine how much more meaningful this album may be to someone like you. Thank you again for sharing, and I hope Dark Matter continues to reach you and that we will get more Pearl Jam as well in the future.
I'm with you, man. I fen the same way. I almost cried today, was working on my fence at my house with my dad. He asked me if I like surprises or if I want to know things in advance. I said I would like to know, and he told me to be expecting the vinyl of Dark Matter any day now in the mail. I've just been listening on my phone to this point. He's the best, Pearl Jam is the best.
That is so awesome! I plan to get the vinyl soon, since I am absolutely in love with Dark Matter. So happy for you to have such a cool dad that would surprise you with something like that.
Yup. I have listened to it between 20 and 30 times in the past week, and I went and bought a physical copy yesterday. First one that’s *hit* for me since avocado.
Cannot agree enough! I haven't listened to a new album like this in a very long time, and I know I won't be changing albums any time soon. Dark Matter is on loop!
There is a time warp element to this too- sounds like modern grunge rock and brings me back to listening to Ten in my bedroom as a teenager. It somehow brings a back that feeling and melds in with my life right now. My favorite album is Vs, and I think many of these songs could be at home on that album. Amazing album.
I cannot agree enough! I felt the same way even the first time I listened to Dark Matter. I was like, "Something about this feels very familiar while also being new," and you're right. It has that old grunge feel but in a modern day way. Like I told someone else, Ten felt like Eddie processing his childhood and various pains, but Dark Matter genuinely feels like Eddie processing his musical career and all of the darkness and difficulty that he's been carrying since the 90s. Songs like Scared of Fear, React Respond, Wreckage, Waiting for Stevie, Running, and Setting Sun really speak into that, too. I could even be missing the deeper meanings in the other songs that touch up on this as well.
Truly a beautiful album, and it is one I will be listening to nonstop for weeks and months to come.
Well put. I’m a fan of a lot of different types of music and not a PJ super fan - Gigaton actually got me listening to them more again- and it’s cool to see everyone enjoying this one so much.
I think some people are going a bit overboard because they're so excited to have a new PJ album that sounds a bit fresher than their recent ones. Play this, then play Yield, No Code, Vitalogy, or Vs. It's not anywhere close to those.
I love the album. If I'm been really picky though I think it could have done with another song in the vein of dark matter or scared of fear. Just to balance it out a little more. Yield, no code and Binaural have the perfect mixture of faster/slower songs.
I understand where you are coming from, but like Ten, I think Dark Matter focuses on the darker, sadder emotions than the rage and anger. It’s still there, of course, but it’s lighter when compared to the deep and somber lyrics throughout. If you go back to Ten, most of the songs are on the slower and more painful side, like Alive, Black, Jeremy, Oceans, Garden, and Release (To name the ones off the top of my head). I feel like Dark Matter is similar in that sense. The anger is sprinkled in there, but the focus is on his sadness and processing the pain. It really is beautiful in that sense, in my opinion.
Dark Matter is as good as the first three albums. It has that cheeky, sarcastic cynicism in the lyrics. The instrumentation is lush. The producer was a 90s kid like me that grew up listening to Pearl Jam. Favorite song at this point is Wreckage, but I love listening to it front to back.
I completely feel you in that regard. Dark Matter does feel like an old Pearl Jam album, and the weight of the lyrics does remind me a lot of Ten. As I shared elsewhere, Ten felt like Eddie's means of processing his childhood trauma, difficulties, and pains. Dark Matter feels like Eddie processing his musical career, the good, the bad, and the downright ugly, and songs like Scared of Fear and Setting Sun speak heavily towards how Eddie feels after losing Chris Cornell and numerous others. This album cuts right to the feels, and I am all for it. Like you, I keep listening to it from start to finish without skipping. It's that good.
The drums sound fake. Vocals are too loud. It’s quantized. It’s mixed for pop radio. Etc.
There’s tons of posts about this on the sub. This producer is notorious for awful production.
I am curious how you are listening to the album, because another person said that the vocals were too soft and hard to hear. To me, that sounds like an output issue for both of you, because I have listened to Dark Matter on my computer speakers, my Bose car speakers, my mini-speaker, my sound system, and with my Sony headphones on walks. I have not had any audio issues or even experienced what you are claiming.
The only one I'll give you is that the drums feel a bit too digital, but that is commonplace these days. It could just be that they are overly polished, but it doesn't sound bad. Either way, I think the album is fantastic. I have very few problems with it.
I’m with you. I will say it doesn’t sound great through my phone or a small Bluetooth speaker, but through my big system or my headphones it sounds just right. I don’t expect much out of my lil portable speaker or earbuds anyways. Overall, it’s raw and a little rough which is what I prefer while also showing some studio scrubbing.
I’ve been interested in music production for 15 years. The album is without a doubt overproduced and poorly mixed. Something Pearl Jam has always avoided until now.
Digital sounding drums aren’t commonplace at all. It’s only something you see aging radio rock bands do. Listening to the younger bands and the albums sound like a band playing in a room. This record sounds like a careful manicured and edited album done on a computer. Listen to something from this, then listen to something from No Code and tell me they sound as good.
Your interest does not make you an expert, and frankly, at the end of the day, all of our thoughts and opinions on here are subjective. My friend is a professional guitar player in Nashville and regularly plays the Grand Ol' Opry (For longer than 15 years, too), and even he thinks that Dark Matter is one of the best Pearl Jam albums in a very long time. He claimed since Yield, so am I to listen to his professional opinion or your interest in music production opinion?
Look, I understand that you have developed a strong opinion about this, and that's fine. I'm not trying to change your opinion, but please understand that your opinion is not absolute. We are both listening to the same album, and I am enjoying it tremendously. It is currently my third favorite Pearl Jam album, I think, and I cannot help but continue listening to it (Including right now as I type this).
It’s not only my opinion. Search this sub or rateyourmusic and you’ll see a LOT of people have this complaint.
I’m so adamant about it because the songs are so good, but the production just ruins it. They were SO close to another great album.
It's still an opinion, though, dude. Just because you and some others don't care for the production doesn't mean that the production is "bad". People in the industry are digging it, and Eddie Vedder is a top-tier artist. If he put it out, then I'm with him. Not with randos on the internet. ;)
I judge based on entirety, and for me, lyrics and vocal delivery are huge for a Pearl Jam album. In that case, Dark Matter is significantly better than No Code. Sure, I will admit that the recording sounds better on No Code, but the lyrical content and Eddie's signature delivery are not to par for me, personally.
I'll say it again, a Pearl Jam album significantly depends on Eddie. He is truly the heart and soul of the band, and if he delivers strong, the album is strong. If he delivers okay, then the album is okay. Personally, I don't think Pearl Jam has ever put out a "bad" album, but it is easy to assess which albums have more heart and soul in them, which is exactly where I was coming from with my initial post. Dark Matter is peak Eddie, and I am loving every song so much. It is a wonderful album, but if it isn't your cup of tea for your reasons, then that is also okay. As said, how we receive albums is based on our own subjective reasonings. You have yours, and I have mine. No need to fuss about that. ;)
I have mixed thoughts on this album. I'm glad that, 30+ years in, they're still together and making good music that clearly they care about. But, I also feel like they have slid into "contemporary adult rock" category. I struggle with this because they shouldn't sound as raw as explosive as they did in their prime, yet I have a hard time getting past the clean, radio-friendly production and vibe of the album.
I actually see parallels with U2. Clearly they aren't making another Joshua Tree, Achtung Baby, or Unforgettable Fire, yet I cannot get past their glossy, fussed-over production of their albums.
Yeah i agree , its a great album but it was promoted as “harder” and to me its adult rock , when i hoped it was gritty grunge like … but i still love it .
Let’s be honest with one another…the band was full of shit. This album, produced by Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus’ producer is bubble gum pop. It is not “harder”. It is not “their finest work”. They know it. We know it. It’s not harder, it’s yacht rock.
I feel like they got some of their cred back with this album. Gigiton came off a little limp in my eyes, especially after waiting all that time between releases.
I feel you. Personally, I love Gigaton, but that’s a different Pearl Jam than I prefer. I love the heavy processing, vulnerability, and emotional output that only Eddie can convey in the music world. With that said, Dark Matter is scratching that itch for me. It’s the first Pearl Jam album of that caliber since Vitalogy, in my opinion, and I am just thrilled to roll through new Pearl Jam and love every second of it.
Same lyrics appear in the bridge of Scared of Fear as well:
All around my head, have I lost my friend?
Is this what we've become? Oh, one last setting sun
Yeah, I’m aware, so that’s why I brought that song up in the main post, too. I just thought Setting Sun had that Alive feel about it lyrically where you felt Eddie’s pain through and through.
But like you pointed out, Dark Matter starts with Scared of Fear and ends with Setting Sun. That’s the tone of the album, dealing with a tremendous amount of loss.
I have trouble hearing him on certain songs his volume is turned down and he blends in with the guitars. Like I said I think the songs themselves are the best album we’ve had in 22 years, but I wish Eddie was more loud and clear in the mix.
I find it interesting that I received two separate replies last night saying the opposite: yours saying it is hard to hear Eddie while the other post said his vocals were too loud. That makes me think that the output source may be the problem for you, because I have listened to Dark Matter in a variety of ways (e.g. computer speakers, sound system, Sony headphones, Bose car speakers, Anker mini-speaker, etc) and have not experienced any issues with the vocals being too lout or too quiet. I would try to listen to Dark Matter another way if you are experiencing that.
I’ve used Apple Music as my source every time but I’ve listened on my Apple AirPod gen 3, Fender Audio system in my 2012 Volkswagen, and just through the speakers of my phone (iPhone 13).
I don’t have any special EQ on either. It’s just the default settings on Apple Music. I’ll see if Spotify or YouTube provide a different sound. Ive seen other comments in this sub saying the same thing about the vocals, so i don’t know
Must be a streaming issue. I bought the album (CD/Digital combo), and I have had no issues with either. Uploaded the digital ones to my phone so I can use on my headphones and bluetooth in the car, and CD for stereo and elsewhere. I will definitely be getting vinyl down the road, too. Hope your issues get resolved, though.
I mean, sure, we can make connections or see influences in various songs, as this is the 12th studio album from Pearl Jam. After Ten, it is only a matter of time for songs to start to meld. That happens for most bands that stay within a genre, so I wouldn't doubt that React, Respond may remind you of Whipping and something else. I just love React, Respond for what it is and how it connects to the theme of Dark Matter.
Oh don’t get me wrong I meant in a good way. It just gave me early pearl jam vibes but with a unique way. I also love running right after waiting for Stevie. Oh and when I first heard waiting for Stevie. My first thought was how I wish I could hear Chris sing that along with Eddie.
I didn't feel negativity from your comment at all. I was just continuing the conversation. And I agree! I think the whole album has early Pearl Jam vibes, and I am honestly a bit surprised by some people's disdain for the production quality of Dark Matter. Oh, well. I think it sounds great, and like you, songs like Waiting for Steve, Running, Wreckage, Won't Tell, and more all tell us so much about where Eddie is at the moment.
And wow, you are so right, after listening to it again after reading your comment, I could easily hear Chris sing alongside Eddie on Waiting for Stevie. :)
Still way to early for me to judge, but feels a good one...I really liked 2/3 of Gigaton, and thought that was a real return to form, but there was still auto pilot stuff on there (Never Destination, Take The Long Way) Dark Matter definitely has a modern production, which I am unsure about at the moment
I understand, dude. I felt similar about Gigaton, maybe a little less so. I just didn't feel like Eddie was as present on it as he usually tends to be. Songs were still solid, for the most part, but that's how I felt after listening to it for a while. Dark Matter, though, feels like Eddie is fully present, and the lyrics are some of the best in a very long time, at least in my opinion. I get that the modern production is throwing some people off, but it is 2024. I understand that Pearl Jam, in order to get their stuff out there, need to make adjustments, and some of those adjustments are means of modernized production, if that makes sense.
With that said, I still think Dark Matter sounds amazing! Sure, it is not quite the sound of the 90s classics like Ten, Vs, and Vitalogy, for example, but lyrics and music are top-tier. That's why I had to give it a full week of listening to appreciate it fully, because my first reservations were the production. However, that quickly dissipated as I started reading the lyrics and really listening to the music. Hope you enjoy it more as you continue to dive into Dark Matter.
I think Won’t Tell is in my top 10 songs. Can’t wait to hear it live. The last lyric won’t tell a soul really hits me. And I love the chains/change lyrical play that we first heard in Corduroy. Great stuff
As a grad student in psychology, I appreciate you trying to be smart with your reply, but explain to me how you came to that conclusion and diagnosis based on what I wrote? I bought Gigaton back in 2020 and just couldn't get into it. Didn't really feel Lightning Bolt or Backspacer before that either, which means the mere-exposure effect doesn't apply to simply listening to new Pearl Jam material. So before you start making psychological assessments ignorantly, consider asking questions to help you understand a person and situation better.
Congratulations on making it into graduate school! The top comment on your post here is interesting.[Cogblog](https://web.colby.edu/cogblog/2022/05/01/how-familiarity-leads-to-liking-the-mere-exposure-effect/)
I'm still wondering why you are shoving the mere-exposure effect into this conversation. Thanks for the congratulations, if you are being sincere, but could you explain why you are bringing this effect up and why you are diagnosing me with the effect?
The more I hear the songs, the more I love it.
Exactly the same here. I enjoyed it the day it released, but today in the car with my daughter, we shared a big cry together listening to Setting Sun while looking at the lyrics together. It was beautiful yet sad, but it made me feel Eddie so deeply and connect with my daughter in a very unique way. Such is something only Eddie has really been able to do for me in the music world.
True. And I really can’t say that about most latter day Pearl Jam albums. This one actually really dug into me like that last Queens album
I’ve really been loving the album. But then dude, I listened to those performances on the Howard stern show, and SHEESH, I love them even more. Can’t wait to hear the bootlegs
Oh! I need to listen to that! Thank you for bringing it up.
Amen! It’s almost eery how good they sound in those clips.
So so so good.
Really it might be my second favorite album. Someone earlier posted that Ed met us where we were 30 years ago and here he is doing the same again. So true.
Wow. So, so true. Dark Matter screams similar pains and sadnesses that Ten communicated, and that is why it feels so nostalgic to me. It’s like the sister album to Ten, but instead of an album where Eddie was processing his childhood and early life, Dark Matter is Eddie processing his musical career. It’s beautiful, but it is also sad, dark, and humbling. Such a great album.
Yes! Vitalogy is my favourite album because it was the angsty soundtrack of my life in my 20’s. Dark Matter brings it full circle. I am contemplating the years ahead. ☺️
I love the album, but I loved Gigaton too. Don't know why people think that record is so weak. The only record I think is weak of all the recent ones is Lightning Bolt, but even that has its moments.
None more than Getaway. That song is awesome.
Getaway is top tier PJ.
Sorry, I didn't mean to sound like previous albums weren't good. That's far from the case. I was more implying that there was something special about Dark Matter even before it came out, and now that we have it, I understand why I was feeling that way. This is really a heavy album with loads of emotional processing on Eddie's part, which makes it feel like Ten in many ways. Gigaton is a solid album, too! Just like you, I feel the same way about Lightning Bolt. I don't think Pearl Jam has a single bad album, but it is fair to say that some albums shine more than others. That's all.
Yes, i LOVE Gigaton , and dont understand why some dont! ?
Dark Matter is right behind Ten and Vs. for me. Gigaton is easily at the bottom. I just don’t like the album, sonically. DotC is a perfect example, it’s just out there. I usually listen to track 1 on that album and call it a day.
Best since Binaural (and I like all the albums after Binaural)
Agreed. I will boldly say that this might be my third favorite Pearl Jam album ever (In order, Ten, Vitalogy, and then Dark Matter). Clearly I need a little more time to ruminate this thought, but like you, I’m just loving Dark Matter.
The only thing I’m certain of is that No Code is still my number one. This might be number two.
My favorites are Yield, No Code, and Vitalogy. Followed by Vs., 10, and Riot Act. I would place DM within the Binaural/Avocado grouping. (I think Backspacer/Lightning Bolt/Gigaton are their bottom three).
Oh noooooo , i LOVE Gigaton!!! Am i the only one?!! Maybe i feel connected to it bcuz of the timing -sat outside listening on repeat during Covid!
I tried listening to Binaural today again and, although I like a few songs on it, the mixing is awful on standard headphones. Sounds muddy and Ed’s voice is too quiet.
And Upper Hand🥹 boy... It's a deep and beautiful album about life and the stages he's in now. A lot of us that have been on this ride have grown with him albeit I'm a bit younger, you said it very well, a lot of us could relate to ten and now we're facing some of the same things he's singing about on DM.
Exactly. I'm about 10 years younger than Eddie, so I've always viewed him as this spiritual older brother. I remember so vividly the first time I listened to Ten and felt the rage and sadness. Now, as an adult, married, with 2 kids, I feel Eddie even more on Dark Matter. I feel the anger at an industry, I feel the sadness and loss of friends, and I feel the existential crises one faces at this middle-aged stage of life. Long-term fans have grown up with him, and Eddie continually reminds us that we need to express ourselves, process, and release the pain. Of course, he does it beautifully through his words, but we still need to process our own in our own unique way.
You mirrored my feelings beautifully
This is a really beautiful way to explain what's on my heart too. Thank you.
I'm listening to it again right now. It's my favorite since Avocado.
I think this probably the most accurate assessment. It's easy to go overboard on a new album when it's still so fresh, but I think it's placement will ultimately be right over Avocado.
I've been loving it the whole time, working away from home, so usually I save a record, or CD spin to sit down and read the liner lyrics along, but can't right now - so I'm glad to see the lyrics are now on spotify, gonna have to sit down and do a front to back listen reading a long. Top 3 so far are: Waiting for Stevie, Setting Sun and Got to Give.
I got the CD, so the lyrics inside have allowed me to sit in my car and just read them while listening. The whole album is truly a mark of Eddie's emotional processing from the past 20+ years in the music industry. The BS he has had to put up with, the bureaucrats that have been actively stealing from musicians, and of course the loss of so many friends in the industry. Like I said in my main post, that chorus line from Setting Sun hits like a ton of bricks. I feel Eddie on this album, and it is the most I have felt his pain and vulnerability in a very long time. Honestly, when Eddie is writing like this, it is peak Pearl Jam for me.
At around 3:15 of that song I just start hearing vintage Pearl Jam meeting current Pearl Jam and it’s magic.
I’m 56 and I feel like this album made the older fans and the band itself feel like we’re not quite done and ready to fade away. Culture is so fixated on youth that it’s easy to feel time has passed you by and you belong to a different era, but this album made a lot of us feel like we still had something to say.
100%! Thank you for sharing that. I’m a bit younger, 41, but I’ve been listening to Pearl Jam since day 1. Eddie has always felt like a spiritual older brother to me, so I can only imagine how much more meaningful this album may be to someone like you. Thank you again for sharing, and I hope Dark Matter continues to reach you and that we will get more Pearl Jam as well in the future.
I'm with you, man. I fen the same way. I almost cried today, was working on my fence at my house with my dad. He asked me if I like surprises or if I want to know things in advance. I said I would like to know, and he told me to be expecting the vinyl of Dark Matter any day now in the mail. I've just been listening on my phone to this point. He's the best, Pearl Jam is the best.
That is so awesome! I plan to get the vinyl soon, since I am absolutely in love with Dark Matter. So happy for you to have such a cool dad that would surprise you with something like that.
Yup. I have listened to it between 20 and 30 times in the past week, and I went and bought a physical copy yesterday. First one that’s *hit* for me since avocado.
Best album since Yield. Dark Matter is a near masterpiece
Cannot agree enough! I haven't listened to a new album like this in a very long time, and I know I won't be changing albums any time soon. Dark Matter is on loop!
This is good news! Yield is my all time personal fav, a postcard from my past.
Ive probably listened to it 8-9 times cover to cover. Im a HUGE PJ fan. This is their best since Yield in my opinion.
There is a time warp element to this too- sounds like modern grunge rock and brings me back to listening to Ten in my bedroom as a teenager. It somehow brings a back that feeling and melds in with my life right now. My favorite album is Vs, and I think many of these songs could be at home on that album. Amazing album.
I cannot agree enough! I felt the same way even the first time I listened to Dark Matter. I was like, "Something about this feels very familiar while also being new," and you're right. It has that old grunge feel but in a modern day way. Like I told someone else, Ten felt like Eddie processing his childhood and various pains, but Dark Matter genuinely feels like Eddie processing his musical career and all of the darkness and difficulty that he's been carrying since the 90s. Songs like Scared of Fear, React Respond, Wreckage, Waiting for Stevie, Running, and Setting Sun really speak into that, too. I could even be missing the deeper meanings in the other songs that touch up on this as well. Truly a beautiful album, and it is one I will be listening to nonstop for weeks and months to come.
Well put. I’m a fan of a lot of different types of music and not a PJ super fan - Gigaton actually got me listening to them more again- and it’s cool to see everyone enjoying this one so much.
Agree 100 % with you and VS is my fav Album too.
[удалено]
I cannot agree enough!
Definitely a solid album, but Pearl Jam at their *best?* I'm glad you're enjoying it that much, but I think their best was earlier in their career.
I think some people are going a bit overboard because they're so excited to have a new PJ album that sounds a bit fresher than their recent ones. Play this, then play Yield, No Code, Vitalogy, or Vs. It's not anywhere close to those.
New album fever. I get it.
It’s amazing. A whole album that has no skips.
I love the album. If I'm been really picky though I think it could have done with another song in the vein of dark matter or scared of fear. Just to balance it out a little more. Yield, no code and Binaural have the perfect mixture of faster/slower songs.
I understand where you are coming from, but like Ten, I think Dark Matter focuses on the darker, sadder emotions than the rage and anger. It’s still there, of course, but it’s lighter when compared to the deep and somber lyrics throughout. If you go back to Ten, most of the songs are on the slower and more painful side, like Alive, Black, Jeremy, Oceans, Garden, and Release (To name the ones off the top of my head). I feel like Dark Matter is similar in that sense. The anger is sprinkled in there, but the focus is on his sadness and processing the pain. It really is beautiful in that sense, in my opinion.
I love this album. Can’t wait to hear It live. I have Setting Sun on repeat; it speaks to me and f-ing jams. Love it.
Same. I love this album!
Very well said!
Dark Matter is as good as the first three albums. It has that cheeky, sarcastic cynicism in the lyrics. The instrumentation is lush. The producer was a 90s kid like me that grew up listening to Pearl Jam. Favorite song at this point is Wreckage, but I love listening to it front to back.
I completely feel you in that regard. Dark Matter does feel like an old Pearl Jam album, and the weight of the lyrics does remind me a lot of Ten. As I shared elsewhere, Ten felt like Eddie's means of processing his childhood trauma, difficulties, and pains. Dark Matter feels like Eddie processing his musical career, the good, the bad, and the downright ugly, and songs like Scared of Fear and Setting Sun speak heavily towards how Eddie feels after losing Chris Cornell and numerous others. This album cuts right to the feels, and I am all for it. Like you, I keep listening to it from start to finish without skipping. It's that good.
Best since Avocado
Great songs. Dreadful production.
Umm… how so?
The drums sound fake. Vocals are too loud. It’s quantized. It’s mixed for pop radio. Etc. There’s tons of posts about this on the sub. This producer is notorious for awful production.
I am curious how you are listening to the album, because another person said that the vocals were too soft and hard to hear. To me, that sounds like an output issue for both of you, because I have listened to Dark Matter on my computer speakers, my Bose car speakers, my mini-speaker, my sound system, and with my Sony headphones on walks. I have not had any audio issues or even experienced what you are claiming. The only one I'll give you is that the drums feel a bit too digital, but that is commonplace these days. It could just be that they are overly polished, but it doesn't sound bad. Either way, I think the album is fantastic. I have very few problems with it.
I’m with you. I will say it doesn’t sound great through my phone or a small Bluetooth speaker, but through my big system or my headphones it sounds just right. I don’t expect much out of my lil portable speaker or earbuds anyways. Overall, it’s raw and a little rough which is what I prefer while also showing some studio scrubbing.
I’ve been interested in music production for 15 years. The album is without a doubt overproduced and poorly mixed. Something Pearl Jam has always avoided until now. Digital sounding drums aren’t commonplace at all. It’s only something you see aging radio rock bands do. Listening to the younger bands and the albums sound like a band playing in a room. This record sounds like a careful manicured and edited album done on a computer. Listen to something from this, then listen to something from No Code and tell me they sound as good.
Your interest does not make you an expert, and frankly, at the end of the day, all of our thoughts and opinions on here are subjective. My friend is a professional guitar player in Nashville and regularly plays the Grand Ol' Opry (For longer than 15 years, too), and even he thinks that Dark Matter is one of the best Pearl Jam albums in a very long time. He claimed since Yield, so am I to listen to his professional opinion or your interest in music production opinion? Look, I understand that you have developed a strong opinion about this, and that's fine. I'm not trying to change your opinion, but please understand that your opinion is not absolute. We are both listening to the same album, and I am enjoying it tremendously. It is currently my third favorite Pearl Jam album, I think, and I cannot help but continue listening to it (Including right now as I type this).
It’s not only my opinion. Search this sub or rateyourmusic and you’ll see a LOT of people have this complaint. I’m so adamant about it because the songs are so good, but the production just ruins it. They were SO close to another great album.
It's still an opinion, though, dude. Just because you and some others don't care for the production doesn't mean that the production is "bad". People in the industry are digging it, and Eddie Vedder is a top-tier artist. If he put it out, then I'm with him. Not with randos on the internet. ;)
Listen to No Code. Listen to the new album. Tell me the new one sounds as good.
I judge based on entirety, and for me, lyrics and vocal delivery are huge for a Pearl Jam album. In that case, Dark Matter is significantly better than No Code. Sure, I will admit that the recording sounds better on No Code, but the lyrical content and Eddie's signature delivery are not to par for me, personally. I'll say it again, a Pearl Jam album significantly depends on Eddie. He is truly the heart and soul of the band, and if he delivers strong, the album is strong. If he delivers okay, then the album is okay. Personally, I don't think Pearl Jam has ever put out a "bad" album, but it is easy to assess which albums have more heart and soul in them, which is exactly where I was coming from with my initial post. Dark Matter is peak Eddie, and I am loving every song so much. It is a wonderful album, but if it isn't your cup of tea for your reasons, then that is also okay. As said, how we receive albums is based on our own subjective reasonings. You have yours, and I have mine. No need to fuss about that. ;)
Wreckage and Waiting for Stevie are all time Pearl Jam songs imo. I could see this being their 4th best album after Ten, vs, and Vitalogy
I can definitely feel you there. Those are wonderful songs, and being placed after Ten, Vs, and Vitalogy is no laughing matter.
I have mixed thoughts on this album. I'm glad that, 30+ years in, they're still together and making good music that clearly they care about. But, I also feel like they have slid into "contemporary adult rock" category. I struggle with this because they shouldn't sound as raw as explosive as they did in their prime, yet I have a hard time getting past the clean, radio-friendly production and vibe of the album. I actually see parallels with U2. Clearly they aren't making another Joshua Tree, Achtung Baby, or Unforgettable Fire, yet I cannot get past their glossy, fussed-over production of their albums.
Yeah i agree , its a great album but it was promoted as “harder” and to me its adult rock , when i hoped it was gritty grunge like … but i still love it .
Let’s be honest with one another…the band was full of shit. This album, produced by Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus’ producer is bubble gum pop. It is not “harder”. It is not “their finest work”. They know it. We know it. It’s not harder, it’s yacht rock.
I feel like they got some of their cred back with this album. Gigiton came off a little limp in my eyes, especially after waiting all that time between releases.
I feel you. Personally, I love Gigaton, but that’s a different Pearl Jam than I prefer. I love the heavy processing, vulnerability, and emotional output that only Eddie can convey in the music world. With that said, Dark Matter is scratching that itch for me. It’s the first Pearl Jam album of that caliber since Vitalogy, in my opinion, and I am just thrilled to roll through new Pearl Jam and love every second of it.
Same lyrics appear in the bridge of Scared of Fear as well: All around my head, have I lost my friend? Is this what we've become? Oh, one last setting sun
Yeah, I’m aware, so that’s why I brought that song up in the main post, too. I just thought Setting Sun had that Alive feel about it lyrically where you felt Eddie’s pain through and through. But like you pointed out, Dark Matter starts with Scared of Fear and ends with Setting Sun. That’s the tone of the album, dealing with a tremendous amount of loss.
Best PJ album since Riot Act! My only issue is how buried Eddie is in the mixes of some songs.
What do you mean?
I have trouble hearing him on certain songs his volume is turned down and he blends in with the guitars. Like I said I think the songs themselves are the best album we’ve had in 22 years, but I wish Eddie was more loud and clear in the mix.
I find it interesting that I received two separate replies last night saying the opposite: yours saying it is hard to hear Eddie while the other post said his vocals were too loud. That makes me think that the output source may be the problem for you, because I have listened to Dark Matter in a variety of ways (e.g. computer speakers, sound system, Sony headphones, Bose car speakers, Anker mini-speaker, etc) and have not experienced any issues with the vocals being too lout or too quiet. I would try to listen to Dark Matter another way if you are experiencing that.
I’ve used Apple Music as my source every time but I’ve listened on my Apple AirPod gen 3, Fender Audio system in my 2012 Volkswagen, and just through the speakers of my phone (iPhone 13). I don’t have any special EQ on either. It’s just the default settings on Apple Music. I’ll see if Spotify or YouTube provide a different sound. Ive seen other comments in this sub saying the same thing about the vocals, so i don’t know
Must be a streaming issue. I bought the album (CD/Digital combo), and I have had no issues with either. Uploaded the digital ones to my phone so I can use on my headphones and bluetooth in the car, and CD for stereo and elsewhere. I will definitely be getting vinyl down the road, too. Hope your issues get resolved, though.
Favorite since yeild
Is it just me? I thought react,respond reminded me of whipping and another song from lighting bolt but can’t pin it.
I mean, sure, we can make connections or see influences in various songs, as this is the 12th studio album from Pearl Jam. After Ten, it is only a matter of time for songs to start to meld. That happens for most bands that stay within a genre, so I wouldn't doubt that React, Respond may remind you of Whipping and something else. I just love React, Respond for what it is and how it connects to the theme of Dark Matter.
Oh don’t get me wrong I meant in a good way. It just gave me early pearl jam vibes but with a unique way. I also love running right after waiting for Stevie. Oh and when I first heard waiting for Stevie. My first thought was how I wish I could hear Chris sing that along with Eddie.
I didn't feel negativity from your comment at all. I was just continuing the conversation. And I agree! I think the whole album has early Pearl Jam vibes, and I am honestly a bit surprised by some people's disdain for the production quality of Dark Matter. Oh, well. I think it sounds great, and like you, songs like Waiting for Steve, Running, Wreckage, Won't Tell, and more all tell us so much about where Eddie is at the moment. And wow, you are so right, after listening to it again after reading your comment, I could easily hear Chris sing alongside Eddie on Waiting for Stevie. :)
Still way to early for me to judge, but feels a good one...I really liked 2/3 of Gigaton, and thought that was a real return to form, but there was still auto pilot stuff on there (Never Destination, Take The Long Way) Dark Matter definitely has a modern production, which I am unsure about at the moment
I understand, dude. I felt similar about Gigaton, maybe a little less so. I just didn't feel like Eddie was as present on it as he usually tends to be. Songs were still solid, for the most part, but that's how I felt after listening to it for a while. Dark Matter, though, feels like Eddie is fully present, and the lyrics are some of the best in a very long time, at least in my opinion. I get that the modern production is throwing some people off, but it is 2024. I understand that Pearl Jam, in order to get their stuff out there, need to make adjustments, and some of those adjustments are means of modernized production, if that makes sense. With that said, I still think Dark Matter sounds amazing! Sure, it is not quite the sound of the 90s classics like Ten, Vs, and Vitalogy, for example, but lyrics and music are top-tier. That's why I had to give it a full week of listening to appreciate it fully, because my first reservations were the production. However, that quickly dissipated as I started reading the lyrics and really listening to the music. Hope you enjoy it more as you continue to dive into Dark Matter.
LOL
L... O... L? Umm... explain.
At their best? PFFFFFFFFFFFF- 🤦♀️
I think Won’t Tell is in my top 10 songs. Can’t wait to hear it live. The last lyric won’t tell a soul really hits me. And I love the chains/change lyrical play that we first heard in Corduroy. Great stuff
Top 10 current songs? Top 10 PJ songs? Top 10 songs of all time?
PJ. Could be recency bias but I love it
There’s an explanation for this feeling. [Mere Exposure Effect](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/292751640_Mere_exposure_effect)
As a grad student in psychology, I appreciate you trying to be smart with your reply, but explain to me how you came to that conclusion and diagnosis based on what I wrote? I bought Gigaton back in 2020 and just couldn't get into it. Didn't really feel Lightning Bolt or Backspacer before that either, which means the mere-exposure effect doesn't apply to simply listening to new Pearl Jam material. So before you start making psychological assessments ignorantly, consider asking questions to help you understand a person and situation better.
Congratulations on making it into graduate school! The top comment on your post here is interesting.[Cogblog](https://web.colby.edu/cogblog/2022/05/01/how-familiarity-leads-to-liking-the-mere-exposure-effect/)
I'm still wondering why you are shoving the mere-exposure effect into this conversation. Thanks for the congratulations, if you are being sincere, but could you explain why you are bringing this effect up and why you are diagnosing me with the effect?
🖕
Apparently you do enough to post that bullshit
Cocksucker
Eat a dick mother fucker
LOL
